Developer: Valhalla Cats
Publisher: Valhalla Cats, IndieArk
Platform: PC, Switch (2),
Tested on: Switch 2
Stars in the Trash – Review
One year after Stars in the Trash made its debut on Steam, it launched on the Switch. Given that the game flew under our radar when it was initially released, its arrival on the handheld platform seemed like a good opportunity to rectify that. Its premise seemed right up our alley after all: a ‘90s cartoon where you play as a cat doing cat things? Kind of like Stray meets Disney? And there’s a dedicated ‘meow’-button? Count us in!
Story
The official trailer of Stars in the Trash actually does a better job of explaining the game’s backstory than the game itself. Not that this is a particularly complicated tale, mind you. It’s just that there is no in-game dialogue, whereas the trailer has our protagonist, an adorable cat named Moka, tell you exactly what to expect. You see, Moka is bored and decides to sneak out of his family home to explore the world. Unfortunately for our curious kitty, there is an animal catcher roaming the streets, alongside his army of beefed-up rats. Can our feline hero stay out of the claws of the dastardly villain and return home safely? The story itself follows a familiar formula for anyone who grew up watching animated movies from the ‘90s. The game banks on recognition, especially to fans of classic Disney animation, but even so, it keeps things simple and universal enough that anyone can relate to Moka’s adventures.
Graphics
The hand-drawn animated style is undoubtedly the best element of Stars in the Trash, and it’s likely going to be what draws people into the game in the first place. We’d say that that’s with good reason, as the character designs pay homage to those ‘90s animated films, not just from Disney but Warner Bros. and Don Bluth as well. To say that Stars in the Trash’s visuals feel like a love letter to that specific era of animation would be an understatement. That said, there is some unevenness to the graphics. Some of the backdrops are decidedly less detailed or even adopt a different style. The game’s resolution can feel uneven as well, and it’s not always easy to distinguish between which elements are interactive and which ones are simply just part of the backdrop. Regardless, this is a gorgeous little game; it just has some rough edges here and there. Even the game’s Switch icon is fuzzy, which is something that is hopefully fixed with an update, as little Moka definitely deserves better.
Sound
We already mentioned that there is no dialogue in-game, which logically means there is no voice acting present either. Thankfully, the character designs are expressive enough to convey emotions without having to talk. Stars in the Trash does focus on animals more than it does on people, and the furry part of the cast does bark, tweet, and meow instead. Most of the soundscape isn’t dominated by animal sounds, however, but by music. The game’s soundtrack does a standout job of creating an immersive, atmospheric layer that matches the scenes of the story. From the soft piano tunes that play as Moka has a moment with his love interest, to the Batman-esque dramatic music that you hear as you chase the animal catcher’s truck, composer Yevheiny Kutsenko’s soundtrack really ties everything together.
Gameplay
At its core, Stars in the Trash is a puzzle platformer, although it manages to feel more like an interactive animated feature film. Being an ordinary cat, Moka doesn’t really have any special powers, and especially early on, it does feel like you’re a cat doing cat things. You knock over flower pots, use the litterbox, and get in a fight with the family vacuum cleaner. The game follows a linear structure, and as you progress, much of that feeling of mundane realism evaporates, however, and Moka’s feats become more elaborate as cartoon logic kicks into action. Soon enough, you’re sneaking underneath a cardboard box, Metal Gear style, to steal keys from the animal catcher.
Over the course of its runtime, Stars in the Trash manages to pack in a surprising amount of variety in its platforming gameplay. One minute, you’re figuring out how to break out of a supermarket using an apple, and the next you’re dodging rocks while beating up rats. None of Stars in the Trash’s puzzles require massive leaps in logic, and the game is never punishingly difficult. However, controlling Moka can be quite dodgy at times, and there were several instances where we died because we missed a particularly finicky jump. The game also doesn’t explain anything beyond on-screen button prompts, meaning that the significance of specific items was lost on us: we encountered several red balls, yellow ribbons, and lucky Chinese cat statues, but never quite understood the point of them. These were seemingly tied to Steam achievements, but as we were playing on a Switch, they seemed out of place.
The pacing of Stars in the Trash can feel a bit uneven, with the front half of the game putting much more emphasis on puzzles, and the middle shifting to more fast-paced platforming. Without wanting to spoil anything storywise, there is a noticeable tonal shift right after what is arguably the most emotional moment in the game, and the game is weaker because of it. The section where Moka needs to dodge a fish in a river is perhaps the least enjoyable scene in the game, and the fact that it comes right after this shift is the core reason. The feeling that you’re playing through an animated movie is further cemented by the game’s runtime. It took us around 90 minutes to complete the game. That’s quite short, but it’s a matter of quality over quantity here. Stars in the Trash definitely sets out what it achieves to do, and it is a perfect game to play on a lazy Sunday afternoon, which is exactly what we did.
Conclusion
While not without its weaknesses, there is a lot to love about Stars in the Trash. From the gorgeous animation style to the fantastic soundtrack and from the nostalgic story arc to the varied gameplay, this is a game that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face… and maybe even capable of making you shed a tear. We wholeheartedly recommend this one to anyone who grew up watching animated films in the ‘90s.
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